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Outbreak caused by the rare Bundibugyo variant worries global authorities, increases tension in Africa, and challenges doctors without approved vaccines or specific treatments available
The new Ebola outbreak recorded in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has once again put international health authorities on high alert. Although experts currently dismiss a scenario similar to the Covid-19 pandemic, the spread of the disease amid the civil war in the African country worries doctors, researchers, and global organizations.
The information was released by “Folha de S.Paulo,” based on analyses by international experts, data from the World Health Organization (WHO), and interviews given by researchers linked to the University of Oxford, Imperial College London, and London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.
Currently, Congo already has 80 confirmed deaths and about 250 suspected cases related to the new outbreak. Additionally, Uganda has confirmed a case of the disease and recorded a death associated with the virus.
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The scenario is particularly concerning because the outbreak involves the rare Bundibugyo variant of Ebola. This strain of the virus still has no approved vaccines or officially released specific treatments.
Moreover, experts state that the laboratory tests themselves present difficulties in quickly detecting this version of the disease, delaying sanitary control.
Rare Ebola variant increases international concern
The Bundibugyo strain has only caused two known outbreaks previously, recorded in 2007 and 2012. At that time, approximately 30% of infected people died.
According to researchers, this variant represents a much greater challenge precisely due to the lack of specific medical tools.
Dr. Amanda Rojek, from the Pandemic Sciences Institute at the University of Oxford, stated that the situation requires strong international coordination due to the complexity of the current scenario.
Furthermore, Professor Trudie Lang, also linked to the University of Oxford, classified tackling the Bundibugyo as one of the greatest concerns of the current outbreak.
The symptoms of Ebola usually appear between two and 21 days after infection. Initially, the disease may resemble a common flu, causing fever, headache, and intense fatigue.
However, as the condition progresses, the virus begins to cause vomiting, diarrhea, and organ failure. In some cases, patients develop internal and external bleeding.
Without specific medications approved to combat the Bundibugyo variant, doctors rely on intensive supportive care. Treatment includes hydration, fluid control, proper nutrition, and pain relief.
Moreover, experts state that early care significantly increases the chances of survival.
Civil war hinders outbreak containment in Congo
Another factor worsening the situation is the ongoing military conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
According to data cited in the report, the war has already displaced approximately 250,000 people within the country. As a result, health authorities face enormous difficulties in monitoring potential infections and controlling the virus transmission.
Additionally, many affected regions have intense population movement due to mining and trade between cities and neighboring countries.
“Many of the affected areas are mining towns, where the population is transient,” explained Trudie Lang.
This constant mobility increases the risk of international disease transmission, especially to Uganda, Rwanda, and South Sudan, currently considered high-risk countries by the WHO.
Ebola spreads mainly through contact with infected bodily fluids, such as blood, vomit, and secretions.
However, unlike Covid-19, the virus usually only transmits after symptoms appear, which partially aids in sanitary control.
Even so, the delay in identifying the outbreak worries specialists.
Authorities fear a repeat of the 2014 tragedy
The first identified case in the current outbreak involved a nurse who showed symptoms on April 24.
However, authorities took approximately three weeks to officially confirm the outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo variant.
According to Anne Cori, a researcher at Imperial College London, this delay represents one of the most concerning aspects of the current situation.
“Continuous transmission occurred for several weeks, and the outbreak was detected very late,” she stated.
The World Health Organization also warned that the actual number of cases may be much higher than the data recorded so far.
Additionally, experts constantly remind us of the large outbreak that occurred between 2014 and 2016 in West Africa. At that time, almost 30,000 people were infected, making that episode the largest Ebola disaster ever recorded on the African continent.
At the time, Brazil did not register confirmed cases, only suspicions that were later dismissed.
Now, health authorities are trying to prevent the current outbreak from following the same path.
Health teams are primarily working on identifying the infected, contact tracing, and the rapid isolation of possible transmitters.
Additionally, professionals are also working to prevent hospitals and medical centers from becoming centers of virus dissemination, as hospitalized patients tend to present high levels of contamination.
Another important challenge involves conducting safe burials for victims of the disease, avoiding new infections during traditional ceremonies.
Experts state that the speed of the international response in the coming days will be decisive in determining whether the outbreak can be quickly controlled or if it could evolve into an even greater health crisis.
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